Pivotal Rockordings
Encyclopedia
Pivotal Rockordings LLC is a record label
that was founded in December 2004
by start-up businessman Leevan Macomeau who a year prior had founded the Pivotal Rage Webzine (no longer active) and one of its staff members, Alexi Front.
Following its inception, Pivotal Rockordings signed its first artist, Sonic Syndicate
,, a melodic death metal
band from Falkenberg, Sweden and released Eden Fire
, Sonic Syndicate's (and Pivotal Rockordings') first full length on September 13, 2005. Sonic Syndicate's album would eventually land them a record deal with Nuclear Blast
Records and give the label notoriety. Eden Fire would go on to sell over 10,000 copies by the end of 2010 with the help of Sonic Syndicate's continued commercial success and a re-release through Koch Distribution in the USA in collaboration with France's Listenable Records.
By spring 2006, Pivotal Rockordings capitalized on its success with Sonic Syndicate by signing their second artist, Blinded Colony
, a band from the Southeastern city of Karlshamn, Sweden. The band's label debut Bedtime Prayers
would go on to surpass Sonic Syndicate's Eden Fire digital sales but due to the band's loss of vocalist Johan Schuster (Stage name Shellback
, writer and producer for artists such as Pink and Britney Spears), followed by years of relative inactivity, the band was not resigned and eventually re-formed under the moniker The Blinded with a duo of new vocalists. Shortly before Blinded Colony's Bedtime Prayers release, Pivotal Rockordings was approached by a young Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria
, who would become the third signing and move on to sign with Century Media Records for their follow-up to their Pivotal Rockordings release Infamy and the Breed
. In December 2006, Leevan and Alexi announced the addition of long-time assistant Steven Seebode, as the third owner of Pivotal Rockordings. In July 2007, Italian
horror inspired metal act Stigma signed a recording deal with the label and in 2008, Pivotal Rockordings released their debut When Midnight Strikes!, and in fall 2009 the fourth album from Swedish progressive metallers Skyfire
entitled Esoteric. along with a digital-only EP Fractal
. 2010 saw the release of Stigma's sophomore effort Concerto for the Undead along with Pivotal Rockordings' 2nd digital-only release for Stigma's The Undertaker EP, a format which Pivotal Rockordings would adopt for 2011 and its immediate future while the main-focus for co-owner Alexi Front and long-time assistant Ian Crepea shifted towards Pivotal Management, an artist management company working hand in hand with artists which it would help sign to other record labels. Among Pivotal Management's past and current roster are Annex Theory (Unsigned), As You Drown
(Metal Blade), The Amenta
(ex-Listenable), Solution .45
(AFM). Pivotal Management has also assisted other artists either in a professional or consultative/advisory capacity such as The Unguided
(Despotz), Vanisher
(Unsigned), and Zonaria
(Unsigned, ex-Pivotal Rockordings) among many others.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that was founded in December 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
by start-up businessman Leevan Macomeau who a year prior had founded the Pivotal Rage Webzine (no longer active) and one of its staff members, Alexi Front.
Following its inception, Pivotal Rockordings signed its first artist, Sonic Syndicate
Sonic Syndicate
Sonic Syndicate is a melodic death metal band from Falkenberg, Sweden. They are influenced by Swedish melodic death metal bands such as In Flames, Soilwork and metalcore bands like Killswitch Engage.....
,, a melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band from Falkenberg, Sweden and released Eden Fire
Eden Fire
Eden Fire is the debut album by Swedish melodic death metal band Sonic Syndicate. It is their first and only album to be released through the American record label, Pivotal Rockordings. The album was recorded and mixed at Studiomega from February 2005 to June 2005 by Christian Silver and Manne...
, Sonic Syndicate's (and Pivotal Rockordings') first full length on September 13, 2005. Sonic Syndicate's album would eventually land them a record deal with Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
Records and give the label notoriety. Eden Fire would go on to sell over 10,000 copies by the end of 2010 with the help of Sonic Syndicate's continued commercial success and a re-release through Koch Distribution in the USA in collaboration with France's Listenable Records.
By spring 2006, Pivotal Rockordings capitalized on its success with Sonic Syndicate by signing their second artist, Blinded Colony
Blinded Colony
The Blinded is a melodic death metal band from Karlshamn, Sweden, formerly known as both Stigmata and Blinded Colony. They are currently unsigned and recording the pre-preproduction of their third studio album...
, a band from the Southeastern city of Karlshamn, Sweden. The band's label debut Bedtime Prayers
Bedtime Prayers
Bedtime Prayers is the second full-length album released by the Swedish melodic death metal band Blinded Colony. It is the only full album to feature new vocalist Johan Schuster, and also the first album under Pivotal Rockordings.-Track listing:...
would go on to surpass Sonic Syndicate's Eden Fire digital sales but due to the band's loss of vocalist Johan Schuster (Stage name Shellback
Shellback
Shellback may refer to:*Shellback , from Karlshamn, Sweden*Shellback, California, former settlement*Shellback Wilderness, White Pine County, Nevada, U.S., wilderness area*Shellback Island, Victoria, Australia...
, writer and producer for artists such as Pink and Britney Spears), followed by years of relative inactivity, the band was not resigned and eventually re-formed under the moniker The Blinded with a duo of new vocalists. Shortly before Blinded Colony's Bedtime Prayers release, Pivotal Rockordings was approached by a young Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria
Zonaria
Zonaria is a melodic death metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formerly known as Seal Precious. The band is currently signed to Century Media Records.-Background:...
, who would become the third signing and move on to sign with Century Media Records for their follow-up to their Pivotal Rockordings release Infamy and the Breed
Infamy and the Breed
Infamy and the Breed is the debut album by Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria. This album was recorded at Black Lounge studios, Avesta, Sweden with Per Nilson and Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry.-Track listing:# "Infamy" - 1:39...
. In December 2006, Leevan and Alexi announced the addition of long-time assistant Steven Seebode, as the third owner of Pivotal Rockordings. In July 2007, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
horror inspired metal act Stigma signed a recording deal with the label and in 2008, Pivotal Rockordings released their debut When Midnight Strikes!, and in fall 2009 the fourth album from Swedish progressive metallers Skyfire
Skyfire
Skyfire is a melodic death metal band from Höör, Sweden.-Biography:Skyfire was formed in the town of Höör, Sweden in 1995 by Andreas Edlund , Martin Hanner , Jonas Sjögren and Tobias Björk . The four were friends since high school and had similar tastes in music. The band recorded two demos:...
entitled Esoteric. along with a digital-only EP Fractal
Fractal
A fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...
. 2010 saw the release of Stigma's sophomore effort Concerto for the Undead along with Pivotal Rockordings' 2nd digital-only release for Stigma's The Undertaker EP, a format which Pivotal Rockordings would adopt for 2011 and its immediate future while the main-focus for co-owner Alexi Front and long-time assistant Ian Crepea shifted towards Pivotal Management, an artist management company working hand in hand with artists which it would help sign to other record labels. Among Pivotal Management's past and current roster are Annex Theory (Unsigned), As You Drown
As You Drown
As You Drown is a death metal band formed in Borås, Sweden in the winter of 2003/2004.-History:The band was released a demos between 2003-2005 and managed to performed some shows supporting fellow European metal bands like Entombed and Vader before encountering their first set of lineup changes.In...
(Metal Blade), The Amenta
The Amenta
-History:The band originally formed in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales in 1997 as Crucible of Agony. They initially played black metal and released two demos in 1999 under the name...
(ex-Listenable), Solution .45
Solution .45
Solution .45 is a metal supergroup from Sweden and Finland, created by guitarist Jani Stefanovic . Their current lineup includes vocalist Christian Älvestam , guitarists Stefanovic, Patrik Gardberg and Tom Gardiner , bassist Anders Edlund , and...
(AFM). Pivotal Management has also assisted other artists either in a professional or consultative/advisory capacity such as The Unguided
The Unguided
The Unguided is a five-piece melodic death metal band from Sweden, formed by Richard Sjunnesson, after his departure from Sonic Syndicate. Later, he was joined by Roland Johansson, and current Sonic Syndicate guitarist Roger Sjunnesson and drummer John Bengtsson and current Cipher System bassist...
(Despotz), Vanisher
Vanisher
The Vanisher is a fictional character, a mutant supervillain of the Marvel Universe, and an opponent of the X-Men. The Vanisher is one of the X-Men's oldest enemies having first appeared in X-Men #2...
(Unsigned), and Zonaria
Zonaria
Zonaria is a melodic death metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formerly known as Seal Precious. The band is currently signed to Century Media Records.-Background:...
(Unsigned, ex-Pivotal Rockordings) among many others.
Former bands
- Blinded ColonyBlinded ColonyThe Blinded is a melodic death metal band from Karlshamn, Sweden, formerly known as both Stigmata and Blinded Colony. They are currently unsigned and recording the pre-preproduction of their third studio album...
- SkyfireSkyfire (band)Skyfire is a melodic death metal band from Höör, Sweden.-Biography:Skyfire was formed in the town of Höör, Sweden in 1995 by Andreas Edlund , Martin Hanner , Jonas Sjögren and Tobias Björk . The four were friends since high school and had similar tastes in music. The band recorded two demos:...
- Sonic SyndicateSonic SyndicateSonic Syndicate is a melodic death metal band from Falkenberg, Sweden. They are influenced by Swedish melodic death metal bands such as In Flames, Soilwork and metalcore bands like Killswitch Engage.....
- Stigma
- ZonariaZonariaZonaria is a melodic death metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formerly known as Seal Precious. The band is currently signed to Century Media Records.-Background:...
Owners
- Leevan Macomeau - Owner/Operations and Financial Manager
- Alexi Front - Owner/A&R, Operations and Public Relations
- Steven Seebode - Owner/Web/Graphic Design & Maintenance